A nice bright day with blue sky and sunshine but a bitterly cold NW>3 at 1 degree.
Leeshaw was heaving with gulls which took a lot of time scoping through which was made difficult with them moving about between fields and water. Plenty Herrings but only 1 sub adult LBB and 2 1st winters. Herring gulls are greatly out numbering Lesser Black Backed in my area although Bird Atlas does show that Herring gulls well out number LBBs in winter distribution.
Just 1m and 2f Goosanders on the water along with a single Cormorant whilst 12 Stock Doves flew over >W. Otherwise it was just down to the usual species which was disappointing given the ideal conditions.
The lull was,nt just confined to Leeshaw ,when a mid afternoon visit to Mixenden was every bit as quiet with around 80 small gulls, 30% being Commons, and only 9 Herrings on the water. One of the Black Headed was sporting a Yellow ring on its left leg but only chance for a couple of out of range shots before a dog walker flushed them onto the water and was not re located.
This is the first BHG I,ve had with a yellow ring which can be from a wide range of near and far places including Croatia, the Thames London and Ireland so hopefully it will be sighted again on my next visit to get a number.
The only wildfowl was a pair of Mallard whilst small passerines consisted of Blue Tits and Robins.
BS